Motorcycle Safety: How to Increase Your Visibility

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 13-Jun-2017

As much as we wish we could control the behavior of others, the truth is
that there will always be irresponsible drivers on the road. Knowing this,
there are still plenty of things that motorcyclists can do proactively
to help protect themselves and reduce the risk of getting into an accident
with another vehicle. One of the simplest things motorcyclists can do
is increase their visibility.

It is not uncommon for drivers to claim that they “never even saw”
the motorcyclist in the moments before a collision. Part of the reason
for this may be because they simply weren’t paying attention to
their surroundings, but it is also a fact that motorcycles are much smaller
than vehicles and can accelerate very quickly, which can, and does, make
them more prone to accidents.

Here are some things you can do to make yourself more conspicuous to other drivers:

Wear brightly-colored gear. Consider a bright helmet or other high-visibility safety gear such as jackets
and gloves.

Ride a brightly-colored motorcycle. The dark color of most motorcycles doesn’t do the rider any favors
when it comes to visibility. If you’re in the market for a bike,
consider choosing one in a high-visibility color.

Add reflective tape. If your bike isn’t a high-visibility color, you can still make it
easier to see by adding reflective materials. Reflective tape can be added
to the edges of panniers, around wheel rims, or anywhere else on the bike
you want to draw attention to.

Add auxiliary lights. Adding extra light sources to your bike can make a big difference whether
you ride during the day or at night – in fact, they can help other
drivers more accurately determine a motorcyclist’s position and speed.

Avoid riding in blind spots. It may seem obvious, but always avoid riding in areas where a driver won’t
be able to immediately see you. Never assume that a driver is always going
to do the right thing and turn their head to check if you are there before
they change lanes.

Help for Texas Motorcycle Accident Victims

Motorcyclists who are injured in collisions with negligent drivers may
be owed compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, lost
wages, and more. If you or someone you know has been hurt, you owe it
to yourself to consult an
Austin motorcycle accident lawyer at The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC to learn more about your rights. Our experienced
lawyer can guide you through the entire process and fight for maximum
compensation on your behalf.